Dana Hagstrom – Page 417

Hebrews 4:12-13 – Word of God

While today’s Bible reading is short, it’s powerful. Any time God’s word talks about itself I stop and listen. It’s the instruction book of life we all long to have. It’s our love story with God. It illuminates the foundation of what we believe. It’s God’s gift to us.

How many times do you read a familiar passage but it sounds different? There is a new message that jumps out this time that you didn’t hear before. That’s a great example of what the writer says here, “[F]or the word of God is alive and powerful.” God’s word is alive and speaks to us differently at different times. It certainly is powerful when you think of how it fits so beautifully together, building on itself, one passage supporting another. Continue reading “Hebrews 4:12-13 – Word of God”

Hebrews 4:1-11 – Rest is Important

Read Hebrews 4:1-11

Our last reading was about obeying God and taking the sabbath rest he intends for us. Today’s passage continues to focus on our need to rest in response to God’s provision. He has prepared it for us, so we should gratefully accept and enjoy. If we don’t, we are being disrespectful to God’s wishes. The author says that only those who believe can enter the rest. If we don’t take God up on his offer, are we saying we don’t believe?

If we say, “I don’t have time to rest,” that, too, is pretty lame. I’ve said those words myself, many times. Now as I’m reflecting on this passage, I’m feeling empowered to do better at resting. I’ve asked forgiveness for all the times of rest I’ve missed out on and set aside the feelings of guilt. Telling God we don’t have time for him is exactly what we’re doing when we fail to take his rest. Ouch – are you feeling empowered yet? Continue reading “Hebrews 4:1-11 – Rest is Important”

Hebrews 3:7-19 – Time to Rest

Read Hebrews 3:7-19

Sabbath rest. What does that mean to you? God worked and worked for six days to create everything that exists, and then he rested on the 7th day. He wants us to rest as well, keeping a day holy and reserved for him. How many of us do what God is asking of us? If we’re working a job 5 days a week, our weekends are precious, and we use the time to get stuff done. How could we ever just sit around and spend time with God? That’s what he wants.

Our passage says, “don’t harden your hearts.” We don’t want to be like those disobedient children in the wilderness who turned from God and refused to do what God told them to do. They were never going to enter rest with God. I don’t know about you, but I’m not crazy about having God upset with me. Will he be upset if I do some work on my day of Sabbath rest? I’ll have to ask him someday. Continue reading “Hebrews 3:7-19 – Time to Rest”

Hebrews 3:1-6 – We Are The Church

Read Hebrews 3:1-6

We have seen the author speaking to the supremacy of Jesus in these first few chapters. However, today the focus shifts to Moses. For the new Jewish believer (the original audience of this Book), Moses was a very important figure in Jewish tradition. It was Moses who was used by God to free their people from slavery as they were led to the promised land. I don’t believe this text was meant in any way to downplay Moses as the hero he was. Yet, we see again that Jesus’ power is greater than what we can already fathom.

The focus then shifts to God’s whole house, the church, and who is in charge. We are the church. Moses was a servant just as are we. Jesus built the church and is in charge of the church. It’s up to us to serve and to “keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” Sometimes that can be hard when the world closes in around us. Continue reading “Hebrews 3:1-6 – We Are The Church”

Hebrews 2:10-18 – We are God’s Children

Read Hebrews 2:10-18

Jesus is the Son of God, but we are God’s children. We have been redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection. What does that mean to you?

We are indeed human beings with human weaknesses, failures, struggles, and limitations. Jesus became one of us so he could understand and so that we could trust him. The illustration used in yesterday’s reading about the birds is still fresh in my mind.

I have enjoyed many years of recovery ministry, and verse 18 has always been special to me. “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Jesus stands ready to be our friend and help us through whatever storm we are facing. Continue reading “Hebrews 2:10-18 – We are God’s Children”